Audi A1 Radiator: Specs, Fitment & Common Faults

On the A1, related Audi models have genuinely had confirmed water pump recalls, with problems documented occurring between 30,000 and 70,000 miles.

Illustration for editorial purposes

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OEM Part Number: 6R0121253H (as quoted in catalogue listings — confirm via VIN) — aftermarket radiators Nissens 65293 / Valeo 701331

Accuracy note: Covers the Audi A1 (8X 2010-2018) as listed in the UK aftermarket catalogues. Radiators are sold by engine, gearbox and air-conditioning fitment, and one model usually has two or three different cores — a thicker core for diesels and automatics, a thinner one for small petrols — with different hose positions, so a radiator for the wrong engine will not connect up. The references below are UK aftermarket listings whose fitment lists name this generation, labelled by brand with the core size in mm; genuine numbers are those quoted against the listing. Check your engine code and whether the car has air conditioning against your VIN, and replace the coolant and bleed the system after fitting.

Radiators (aftermarket)	Valeo 701331 (652 x 388 x 26 mm, aluminium core with plastic tanks, fits 1.4 TFSI 136 kW CAVG/CTHG, 1.8 TFSI 141 kW DAJB, 2.0 TDI 100 kW CFHB and 105 kW CFHD, 2.0 TFSI quattro 188 kW CDLH); Nissens 65293; Denso DRM32051; Mahle CR 2425 000S (also CR 1559 000S); Ava SA2021; Prasco AD120R007; Magneti Marelli 350213167900.
Core sizes & variants	The 652 mm core above is the larger radiator used by the higher-output petrol engines and the 2.0 TDI.
Genuine (OE) numbers quoted	6R0121253H; 6R0121253D; 6R0121253R; 6R0121253G
Fitment notes	Supplied without a filler cap, for vehicles without a built-in oil cooler; both connections are 32 mm. Check the engine code before ordering, as the 8X was built with two radiator sizes.

Accuracy note: genuinely worth knowing: automatic gearbox A1s typically need a radiator with a built-in transmission oil cooler that manual versions don't have — ordering the manual-spec part for an automatic car will fit, but won't cool the gearbox oil properly.

Audi A1 Radiator: The Part That Keeps Everything Else From Cooking

It's an unglamorous part, but on the Audi A1, the cooling system is behind almost every serious non-wear engine failure that could have been prevented. Spotting trouble here early is about as cheap an insurance policy as exists against a genuinely expensive repair bill.

Before you buy: radiator size and design vary significantly by engine size, transmission type, and whether your car has air conditioning. Always confirm against your VIN before ordering.

Audi A1 Radiator: What It Does

On the Audi A1, heat from the engine coolant is shed to the surrounding air through the radiator, keeping engine temperature in a safe range. On automatic gearboxes, it often doubles up, cooling transmission fluid through a separate internal circuit too — which is why getting the exact part number right matters more here than on a simple heat exchanger.

Audi A1 Radiator: Watch: Replacing It

🎬 Watch: Audi A1 1.4 TFSi radiator replacement

Watch on YouTube ↗

Only hit on the 8X; it is a YouTube Short, so brief

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A Genuinely Useful Piece of Context Worth Knowing About Water Pump Issues — Audi A1 Radiator

If you're facing a coolant leak or overheating concern, this is genuinely worth knowing: related Audi models have had confirmed recalls addressing water pump issues that could cause coolant to leak from the pump housing, with problems on this platform documented occurring anywhere from 30,000 to 70,000 miles.

A genuinely useful, real diagnostic technique worth trying: with the engine cold, removing the coolant bottle cap and having someone rev the engine while you watch the return hose is a simple way to confirm the water pump is genuinely circulating coolant properly.

It's also genuinely worth knowing an important clarification: genuine overheating caused directly by a failed water pump is actually quite rare, more often stemming from warped cylinder heads or a weakened head gasket left over from a previous overheating event.

Audi A1 Radiator: Faults, DIY Difficulty & Aftermarket Advice

These are the same regardless of make or model — see our full Radiator Guide for the three common failure modes, confirming fitment against your VIN, and OEM vs aftermarket guidance.

More Audi Radiator

The same part, covered across other Audi models.